“Our judgment was that every day Sgt Bergdahl was a prisoner his life was at risk, and in the video we received in January, he did not look well," the official said in a statement. "This led to an even greater sense of urgency in pursuing his recovery. We can’t disclose classified comments from a closed congressional briefing. However, we are able to say that the Senators were told, separate and apart from Sgt Bergdahl’s apparent deterioration in health, that we had both specific and general indications that Sgt Bergdahl 's recovery -- and potentially his life -- could be jeopardized if the detainee exchange proceedings were disclosed or derailed.”

Many Republicans have never bought it. Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, a pitbull of a surrogate on Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign, said Monday the "health issue" has echoes of the White House's initial characterization of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.